U.S. patent application number 12/607263 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-06 for stretchable fastener stringer and slide fastener.
This patent application is currently assigned to YKK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Takahiko Aoki, Takumi Arai, Hiroyuki Konokawa, Yuichi Miyazaki, Eiji Nakayama.
Application Number | 20100107374 12/607263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41564816 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100107374 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakayama; Eiji ; et
al. |
May 6, 2010 |
STRETCHABLE FASTENER STRINGER AND SLIDE FASTENER
Abstract
A stretchable fastener stringer for a slide fastener includes a
fastener tape having a tape main portion and an element attaching
portion and a continuous fastener element which is attached to the
element attaching portion. The fastener tape has stretchability due
to an elastic yarn being combined by weaving or knitting and the
fastener element includes a coupling head, upper and lower leg
portions which are extended from the coupling head and a connecting
portion which connects the upper and lower leg portions,
therebetween of adjacent fastener elements. In this fastener
stringer, a value of a bulging ratio which is the ratio between a
dimension of the coupling head in the tape longitudinal direction
and a dimension of the upper and lower leg portions in the tape
longitudinal direction is set to be larger than 1.80 and not larger
than 2.33.
Inventors: |
Nakayama; Eiji; (Toyama-Ken,
JP) ; Konokawa; Hiroyuki; (Toyama-Ken, JP) ;
Aoki; Takahiko; (Toyama-Ken, JP) ; Arai; Takumi;
(Toyama-Ken, JP) ; Miyazaki; Yuichi; (Toyama-Ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P.O. BOX 770, Church Street Station
New York
NY
10008-0770
US
|
Assignee: |
YKK CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
41564816 |
Appl. No.: |
12/607263 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/399 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D03D 1/00 20130101; Y10T
24/2521 20150115; Y10T 24/2532 20150115; Y10T 24/2527 20150115;
Y10T 24/252 20150115; Y10T 24/2523 20150115; D10B 2501/0631
20130101; A44B 19/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/399 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/16 20060101
A44B019/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2008 |
JP |
2008-281757 |
Claims
1. A stretchable fastener stringer for a slide fastener comprising:
a fastener tape which includes a tape main portion and an element
attaching portion and a continuous fastener element which is
attached to the element attaching portion of the fastener tape, the
fastener tape has stretchability due to an elastic yarn being woven
or knitted into the tape main portion and the element attaching
portion, the fastener element includes a coupling head, upper and
lower leg portions which are extended from the coupling head toward
the tape width direction and which are attached to the element
attaching portion and a connecting portion which connects the upper
and lower leg portions therebetween of adjacent fastener elements,
and wherein a value of a bulging ratio (=mountain length H/leg
portion length d) which is the ratio between mountain length H as a
dimension of the coupling head in the tape longitudinal direction
and leg portion length d as a dimension of the upper and lower leg
portions in the tape longitudinal direction is set to be larger
than 1.80 and not larger than 2.33.
2. The stretchable fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein
a value of a coupling ratio (=(mountain length H+leg portion length
d)/pitch P) which is the ratio between a sum of the mountain length
H and the leg portion length d and a pitch P between the coupling
heads in the tape longitudinal direction of the fastener elements
which are adjacent each other is set to be larger than 1.23 and not
larger than 1.50.
3. The stretchable fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein
the fastener element is sewn to the element attaching portion with
a sewing yarn.
4. The stretchable fastener stringer according to claim 3, wherein
a stretchable core thread is inserted between the upper and lower
leg portions of the fastener element.
5. The stretchable fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein
the fastener element is attached by weaving or knitting
simultaneously when the fastener tape is woven or knitted.
6. A slide fastener including the stretchable fastener stringer
according to claim 1.
7. The stretchable fastener stringer according to claim 2, wherein
the fastener element is sewn to the element attaching portion with
a sewing yarn.
8. The stretchable fastener stringer according to claim 7, wherein
a stretchable core thread is inserted between the upper and lower
leg portions of the fastener element.
9. The stretchable fastener stringer according to claim 2, wherein
the fastener element is attached by weaving or knitting
simultaneously when the fastener tape is woven or knitted.
10. A slide fastener including the stretchable fastener stringer
according to claim 2.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a fastener stringer for a
slide fastener which is used in stretchable clothes such as
sporting clothes, and in particular, relates to a fastener stringer
for a slide fastener which is capable of preventing occurrence of
chain breaking even when an element attaching portion is
stretched.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In the related art, a slide fastener has been used in
various products such as clothes, bags and the like. For example,
slide fasteners have also been used popularly in stretchable
clothes such as knit fabric clothes and sporting clothes. Slide
fasteners used in various kinds of stretchable clothes need to be
attached to the clothes with excellent appearance and to be adapted
to expansion and contraction of the clothes. Therefore, some
stretchability is added to a fastener tape by selecting weaving
structure or knitting structure, material of composition yarns or
the like when the slide fastener tape is woven or knitted. Further,
it has been known that the appearance of the slide fastener formed
with a woven fastener tape is generally better than that formed
with a knitted fastener tape.
[0005] In the case that some stretchability in the tape
longitudinal direction is added to the fastener tape of the slide
fastener, the element attaching portion to which the fastener
element formed at one side edge of the fastener tape is configured
not be stretchable while adding appropriate stretchability to the
tape main portion of the fastener tape in the tape longitudinal
direction by utilizing elastic yarns for some warp yarns, for
example.
[0006] The reason is as described in the following. For example, in
the case that some stretchability is added to both of the tape main
portion and the element attaching portion of the fastener tape,
when the element attaching portion of the fastener tape is
stretched, an element row which is attached to the element
attaching portion is stretched accordingly. When the fastener tape
is stretched in a state that the bilateral fastener element rows
are coupled and the element rows are stretched to some extent or
more in the tape longitudinal direction, the coupling of the
elements is released. Thus, a problem of the slide fastener opening
laterally which is called chain breaking is apt to occur. For this
reason, with a general slide fastener, the element attaching
portion of the fastener tape is often configured to be
non-stretchable.
[0007] For example, assuming that the slide fastener of which tape
main portion is configured to be stretchable and of which element
attaching portion is configured to be non-stretchable is attached
to stretchable clothes, in this case, when a user performs an
exercise such as stretching his or her body while wearing the
stretchable clothes, the element attaching portion is not stretched
while the tape main portion is stretched or contracted in
accordance with the stretching or contraction of the clothes.
Therefore, a strained phenomenon may occur at the clothes to which
the slide fastener is attached. In addition, terrible disharmonized
feeling may be induced in appearance when such clothes are
worn.
[0008] In order to solve such a problem, a slide fastener which has
some stretchability added to a vicinity of the element attaching
portion as well as to the tape main portion has been disclosed, for
example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-294804 and
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-43432.
[0009] For example, the slide fastener disclosed in JP-A No.
63-294804 includes elastic yarns (Spandex covered yarns) which are
arranged regularly at specific intervals and non-stretchable yarns
which are arranged at the rest of the part as warp yarns
constituting the tape main portion and the element attaching
portion of the fastener tape when the fastener tape is woven.
Further, a coil-shaped element row in which a core thread is
inserted is sewn to the element attaching portion of the fastener
tape with a sewing yarn. The core thread is configured so that an
elastic yarn is covered with a cover layer which is formed of a
polyester bulky processed yarn (non-elastic yarn).
[0010] The slide fastener of JP-A No. 63-294804 having the
abovementioned configuration has a degree of stretching that the
element attaching portion is stretched by 10% or more when a load
of 4 kg is applied to the fastener tape in the longitudinal
direction, for example, since the elastic yarns are arranged
regularly at specific intervals also at the element attaching
portion similarly at the tape main portion.
[0011] On the other hand, a ratio of the quantity of arranged
elastic yarns at the element attaching portion is the same as that
at the tape main portion so that numerous non-stretchable yarns are
woven also at the element attaching portion. Then, a degree of
stretching of the core thread itself is suppressed by being covered
with the cover layer which is formed of non-stretchable yarn.
Further, the element row and the core thread are sewn to the
element attaching portion with a non-stretchable yarn. With this
configuration, a pitch between adjacent elements in a state that
the fastener stringer is stretched most is limited to less than
twice the length of the coupling head of the element row in the
tape longitudinal direction.
[0012] Accordingly, in the case that the slide fastener of JP-A No.
63-294804 is attached to clothes having stretchability, a slide
fastener attaching portion is stretched or contracted in accordance
with the stretching of contraction of the clothes. Therefore, the
strained phenomenon and disharmonized feeling are not induced so
that comfortable wearing feeling and excellent appearance can be
obtained. Here, the maximum stretching amount of the element row is
limited as described above while some stretchability is added to
the element attaching portion of the fastener tape. Therefore, even
when the element attaching portion is stretched, occurrence of the
chain breaking in the slide fastener due to release of coupling of
the fastener elements can be prevented.
[0013] Moreover, a slide fastener of which stretchability is
further enhanced than the slide fastener of JP-A No. 63-294804 is
described in JP-A No. 2008-43432. For example, for sporting
clothes, further enhanced stretchability is desired and developed
in order to improve the product value. Accordingly, further
enhanced stretchability has been desired for a slide fastener which
is attached to such clothes having enhanced stretchability.
[0014] Then, in the slide fastener (fastener stringer) described in
JP-A No. 2008-43432, an elastic yarn and a non-elastic yarn are
woven in combination serving as the warp yarns at the tape main
portion and the element attaching portion of the fastener tape.
Further, the weaving ratio of the elastic yarn to the non-elastic
yarn at the element attaching portion is set to be larger than that
at the tape main portion.
[0015] In this manner, by varying the weaving ratio of the elastic
yarn at the element attaching portion from that at the tape main
portion so that the weaving ratio is larger than that at the tape
main portion, the stretchability of the element attaching portion
can be greatly enhanced. Specifically, the slide fastener of JP-A
No. 2008-43432 is described to possess a degree of stretching with
the element attaching portion being stretched by 10% or more when a
load of 1 kg is applied to the fastener tape in the longitudinal
direction.
[0016] Thus, the element attaching portion of the slide fastener of
JP-A No. 2008-43432 is capable of being stretched with a small load
and has excellent degree of stretching (stretchability) compared to
that of the slide fastener of JP-A No. 63-294804. Therefore, even
in the case that the slide fastener of JP-A No. 2008-43432 is sewn
to fabric having high stretchability, for example, the fastener
tape can be easily stretched and contracted smoothly following
operation of stretching and contraction of the fabric. Therefore,
the strained phenomenon and disharmonized feeling are not induced
so that comfortable wearing feeling and excellent appearance can be
obtained.
[0017] Further, in the fastener stringer of JP-A No. 2008-43432,
the stretching amounts of the element attaching portion, the
element row and the core thread in the longitudinal direction are
limited so that the pitch between the fastener elements in the most
stretched state is less than twice the length of the coupling head
of the element row in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, JP-A
No. 2008-43432 describes that the chain breaking due to release of
coupling of the fastener elements is to be prevented even when the
element attaching portion is stretched in the state that the
bilateral element rows are coupled.
[0018] The slide fasteners having base structure of which fastener
tape is stretchable in the tape longitudinal direction are
disclosed in JP-A No. 63-294804 and JP-A No. 2008-43432. Although
the configuration of each of the fastener elements which forms the
element row of the slide fastener is not described in detail, it is
supposed from the disclosure that the element row is formed by
utilizing a coil-shaped continuous fastener element which is
generally used in the related art.
[0019] In this case, the general coil-shaped fastener element of
the related art is formed by utilizing synthetic resin monofilament
of which section is circular. Forming process of the coil-shaped
fastener element is described in detail in the following. First,
the monofilament of which wire diameter (sectional diameter) is 0.6
mm, for example, is processed to be bent so that the monofilament
is wound to be coil-shaped. Subsequently, a projecting portion
which bilaterally bulges is formed locally at the monofilament by
plastically deforming to be flat with stamping forming. In this
manner, the coil-shaped continuous fastener element is formed.
[0020] In the abovementioned coil-shaped fastener element of the
related art, in the case that the wire diameter of the monofilament
is 0.6 mm, generally, the dimension of the coupling head in the
tape longitudinal direction (mountain length H) is set to be 1.08
mm and the pitch P between the adjacent fastener elements in the
tape longitudinal direction is set to be 1.40 mm considering the
coupling strength of the element rows, slidability of a slider and
the like. Further, also in the case that monofilament of different
wire diameter is used, relative dimensions (ratios) of the mountain
length H and the pitch P against the monofilament wire diameter is
basically to be constant.
[0021] Here, when the coil-shaped fastener element is sewn to the
abovementioned stretchable fastener tape, attaching of the
coil-shaped fastener element is performed in a state that a
predetermined tension force is applied by pulling the fastener tape
in the tape longitudinal direction. Thus, the pitch P of the
obtained slide fastener in the tape longitudinal direction of the
fastener element is generally contracted to approximately 1.37 mm
since the tension force of the fastener tape during element
attaching is removed.
[0022] Here, a case that the element row is formed with a normal
coil-shaped fastener element in the slide fastener of which
fastener tape and the element row are stretchable in the tape
longitudinal direction as mentioned above is described in the
following. In the state that the bilateral element rows are
coupled, the coupling head of each of the fastener elements enters
between upper and lower leg portions of the element of the coupling
counterpart so that the coupling heads of respective bilateral
element rows are engaged.
[0023] Therefore, even when the slide fastener receives force to
pull the fastener tape toward the outside in the tape width
direction (lateral tension force) in the state that the element
rows are coupled, for example, the pitch P of the fastener elements
is not expanded and the bilateral coupling heads remain firmly
engaged. Therefore, the coupling of the bilateral element rows is
not disengaged and the coupled state of the element rows can be
maintained.
[0024] However, when the stretchable slide fastener receives force
to push the element rows in the tape front-back direction (pushing
force) in the state that the element rows are coupled, for example,
the element rows are locally curved or bent in the tape front-back
direction due to the stretchability of the fastener tape. As a
result, the pitch P of the fastener elements is expanded at
positions where the element rows are curved or bent.
[0025] Before receiving the pushing force, the coupling head of the
fastener element is engaged with the coupling head of the fastener
element of the coupling counterpart which is attached at a
predetermined pitch. However, when the pitch P of the fastener
elements is expanded by receiving the pushing force, the coupling
head at a part which receives the pushing force is disengaged from
the fastener element of the coupling counterpart and the coupled
state of the element rows cannot be maintained. Therefore, there is
a problem that chain breaking is apt to occur at the element
rows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The present invention has been made in view of the
abovementioned problem of the related art. The specific object of
the present invention is to provide a slide fastener which is
capable of stably maintaining a coupled state of element rows while
preventing occurrence of the chain breaking even when the element
rows in a coupled state receive pushing force in a slide fastener
in which the element row is attached to a stretchable fastener
tape, and in particular, to provide a stretchable fastener stringer
which is used for the slide fastener.
[0027] In order to achieve the abovementioned object, as the basic
configuration, the stretchable fastener stringer provided by the
present invention includes a fastener tape having a tape main
portion and an element attaching portion and a continuous fastener
element which is attached to the element attaching portion of the
fastener tape. Then, the fastener tape has stretchability due to an
elastic yarn being woven or knitted into the tape main portion and
the element attaching portion, and the fastener element includes a
coupling head, upper and lower leg portions which are extended from
the coupling head toward the tape width direction and which are
attached to the element attaching portion, and a connecting portion
which connects the upper and lower leg portions therebetween of
adjacent fastener elements. In this stretchable fastener stringer
for a slide fastener, a value of a bulging ratio (=mountain length
H/leg portion length d) which is the ratio between mountain length
H as a dimension of the coupling head in the tape longitudinal
direction and leg portion length d as a dimension of the upper and
lower leg portions in the tape longitudinal direction is set to be
larger than 1.80 and not larger than 2.33.
[0028] In the fastener stringer according to the present invention,
it is preferable that a value of a coupling ratio (=(mountain
length H+leg portion length d)/pitch P) which is the ratio between
a sum of the mountain length H and the leg portion length d and the
pitch P between the coupling heads in the tape longitudinal
direction of the fastener elements which are adjacent each other is
set to be larger than 1.23 and not larger than 1.50.
[0029] In the fastener stringer of the present invention, it is
preferable that the fastener element is sewn to the element
attaching portion with a sewing yarn. In this case, it is
preferable that a stretchable core thread is inserted between the
upper and lower leg portions of the fastener element.
[0030] On the other hand, in the fastener stringer of the present
invention, the fastener element may be attached by weaving or
knitting simultaneously when the fastener tape is woven or
knitted.
[0031] Further, according to the present invention, a slide
fastener which includes the fastener stringer of the abovementioned
configuration is provided.
[0032] The inventor of the present invention has repeatedly
reviewed means which prevents occurrence of the chain breaking at
the slide fastener even when pushing force is applied to the
stretchable slide fastener in which a continuous fastener element
is attached to a stretchable fastener tape in a coupled state.
[0033] As a result, the following findings have been obtained. That
is, the coupled state of the element rows is stably maintained even
when the pitch P of the fastener elements is expanded with the
pushing force being received by the element rows, provided that the
mountain length H which is the dimension of the coupling head in
the tape longitudinal direction is set to be larger than that in
the related art. In addition, the mountain length H can be
standardized by defining relatively against the dimension of upper
and lower leg portions in the tape longitudinal direction (leg
portion length d). The present invention is completed by defining
an appropriate numeral range on the ratio between the mountain
length H and the leg portion length d based on repeated
experiment.
[0034] Namely, a fastener element which forms an element row of a
stretchable fastener stringer of the present invention is formed so
that a value of a bulging ratio (=mountain length H/leg portion
length d) which is the ratio between the mountain length H as the
dimension of the coupling head in the tape longitudinal direction
and the leg portion length d as the dimension of the upper and
lower leg portions in the tape longitudinal direction is set to be
larger than 1.80 and not larger than 2.33, preferably, between 1.85
and 2.13 inclusive. Here, the stretchable fastener stringer in the
present invention denotes a fastener stringer capable of stretching
with elasticity, more specifically, denotes a fastener stringer in
which a fastener chain is capable of returning to an original
dimension (30 cm) in the condition that a load of 1 kg for each 30
cm of tape length in the longitudinal direction is applied to the
fastener chain in which bilateral element rows of the fastener
stringer are coupled and the load is removed thereafter.
[0035] In a general slide fastener to which a coil-shaped or
zigzag-shaped continuous fastener element in the related art is
attached, the mountain length H is set to be 1.08 mm as mentioned
above. Further, in the case that section of monofilament for
forming the fastener element is circular, the leg portion length d
is to be 0.6 mm because the leg portion length d corresponds to the
dimension of the wire diameter (sectional diameter) of the
monofilament. Accordingly, a value of the bulging ratio of the
continuous fastener element attached to the slide fastener in the
related art has been 1.80.
[0036] Consequently, in the fastener stringer of the present
invention, the bulging ratio as defined for the fastener element is
set to be larger than 1.80 of related art, and preferably to be
1.85 or larger. With this configuration, since the dimension of the
coupling head of each of the fastener elements in the tape
longitudinal direction is larger than that of the related art, the
engagement of the coupling heads of the bilateral fastener elements
can be maintained and occurrence of the chain breaking at the
element rows can be prevented even when the pitch P of the fastener
elements is expanded due to the pushing force received by the
element rows.
[0037] Theoretically, the fastener stringer of the present
invention can prevent occurrence of the chain breaking at the
element rows even when the pitch P of the fastener elements is
stretched about 123% to 146% more than the normal state in which
the pushing force etc. is not received.
[0038] On the other hand, when the bulging ratio of the fastener
element is set to be too large, namely, when the dimension of the
coupling head of each of the fastener elements in the tape
longitudinal direction is to be too large, the coupling of the
bilateral element rows is considered to be difficult to perform
since the coupling heads of the adjacent fastener elements overlap
in the tape longitudinal direction. Further, for example, when the
slider is slid to couple or separate the bilateral element rows,
the easiness of sliding is decreased due to increase of sliding
resistance of the slider, so that the opening and closing operation
of the slide fastener cannot be smoothly performed.
[0039] Thus, the bulging ratio of the fastener element is set to be
2.33 or smaller, preferably to be 2.13 or smaller, as mentioned
above in consideration with the operability of the slide fastener
while preventing overlap between the coupling heads of the adjacent
fastener elements in the tape longitudinal direction.
[0040] In the fastener stringer of the present invention, a
coupling ratio (=(mountain length H+leg portion length d)/pitch P)
which is the ratio between the sum of the mountain length H and the
leg portion length d and the pitch P of the coupling heads of the
fastener element is set to be larger than 1.23 and not larger than
1.50, preferably, to be larger than 1.28 and not lager than 1.46,
and more preferably, to be 1.30.
[0041] The coupling ratio which is defined with the pitch P as
mentioned above denotes the ratio of the coupling head of the
fastener element entering between the upper and lower leg portions
of the fastener element of the coupling counterpart in the coupled
state of the element rows. By setting the coupling ratio to be
larger than 1.23, preferably, to be larger than 1.28, the coupling
head of the fastener element further enters between the upper and
lower leg portions of the fastener element of the coupling
counterpart. Accordingly, the occurrence of the chain breaking at
the element rows can be prevented further efficiently even when the
element rows receive the pushing force.
[0042] On the other hand, by setting the coupling ratio to be 1.50
or smaller, preferably, to be 1.46 or smaller, overlapping of the
coupling heads of the adjacent fastener elements can be reliably
prevented and decrease in operability of the slide fastener can be
also prevented.
[0043] In the fastener stringer of the present invention, the
fastener element is sewn to the element attaching portion with a
sewing yarn. Thus, the stretchability of the slide fastener can be
easily ensured while stably sewing the fastener element since the
fastener element is sewed to the element attaching portion of the
stretchable fastener tape with the sewing yarn.
[0044] In this case, by inserting the stretchable core thread
between the upper and lower leg portions of the fastener element,
the coupling operation of the element rows can be stably performed
while sewing of the fastener element can be performed stably and
reliably.
[0045] Further, in the fastener stringer of the present invention,
even in the case that the fastener element is attached by weaving
or knitting simultaneously when the fastener tape is woven or
knitted, the stretchability of the slide fastener can be ensured
while the fastener element is stably attached.
[0046] In addition, with the slide fastener of the present
invention including the fastener stringer as configured as
abovementioned, appropriate stretchability can be obtained and the
occurrence of the chain breaking at the element rows can be
prevented by stably maintaining the engagement of the coupling
heads of the bilateral fastener elements even when the bilateral
element rows receive the pushing force in the coupled state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] FIG. 1 is a view which schematically illustrates the
configuration of a fastener stringer and weaving structure of a
fastener tape according the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 2 is a sectional view which schematically illustrates a
section of a coupled state of element rows of the fastener
stringers;
[0049] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view which illustrates mountain
length H, leg portion length d and a pitch P of the fastener
stringer;
[0050] FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view at line IV-IV of FIG.
3; and
[0051] FIG. 5 is a front view which schematically illustrates the
slide fastener according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] In the following, preferable embodiments of the present
invention are described with reference to the drawings.
[0053] Here, the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments described below. The present invention may be variously
modified as long as the configuration is substantially the same and
the similar operation and effect are obtained. For example, in the
description of the following embodiments, the fastener stringer is
formed by sewing a coil-shaped continuous fastener element to an
element attaching portion of the woven fastener tape. However, the
invention is not limited to this, and the fastener stringer of the
present invention may be formed by sewing a zigzag-shaped fastener
element instead of the coil-shaped fastener element, for
example.
[0054] Further, the slide fastener of the present invention is not
limited to be formed by sewing the continuous fastener element to
the element attaching portion of the fastener tape after the
fastener tape is woven. The fastener tape may be knitted. In
addition, the continuous fastener element may be attached by
weaving or knitting simultaneously when the fastener tape is woven
or knitted.
[0055] Here, FIG. 1 is a view which schematically illustrates the
configuration of the fastener stringer and weaving structure of the
fastener tape according the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a
schematic sectional view which illustrates a section of a coupled
state of element rows of the fastener stringer. FIG. 2 is a view of
the fastener stringer sectioned at line II-II of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is
an explanatory view which illustrates mountain length H, leg
portion length d and a pitch P of the fastener stringer. FIG. 4 is
a partially sectioned view at line IV-IV of FIG. 3.
[0056] The fastener stringer 1 according to the present embodiment
includes a fastener tape 2 which has a tape main portion 2a and an
element attaching portion 2b, a coil-shaped continuous fastener
element 3 which is sewn to the element attaching portion 2b with a
sewing yarn 5, and a core thread 7 which is inserted through the
fastener element 3 and which is sewn with the sewing yarn 5
together with the fastener element 3.
[0057] Here, the element attaching portion 2b of the present
invention refers to an area including at least a part of the
fastener tape 2 overlapping the core thread 7 (tape portion which
is overlapped by the core thread 7) in the tape width direction, in
particular, refers to a tape portion overlapping the continuous
fastener element 3 (tape portion which is overlapped by the
fastener element 3 row).
[0058] The fastener tape 2 of the present embodiment has basically
the same configuration as the fastener tape used in JP-A No.
63-294804. That is, the element attaching portion 2b is formed
along one side edge of the tape main portion 2a in the fastener
tape 2. At the tape main portion 2a and the element attaching
portion 2b of the fastener tape 2, an elastic yarn 8 and a
non-elastic yarn 9 are woven in combination serving as warp yarns
and a non-elastic yarn 10 is woven serving as a weft yarn.
[0059] In the present embodiment, a Spandex covered yarn which is
constituted by winding a polyester filament yarn around a
polyurethane elastic yarn is used for the elastic yarn 8 serving as
the warp yarn. Then, a polyester processed yarn is used for the
non-elastic yarns 9, 10 serving as the warp yarn and the weft
yarn.
[0060] In the present invention, materials of the elastic yarn 8
and the non-elastic yarns 9, 10 are not particularly limited. For
example, the elastic yarn 8 may be appropriately selected from
rubber yarns of other elastomer, covered yarns obtained by winding
a spun yarn or filament around the rubber yarns and the like. In
addition, a generally used yarn in the related art such as a spun
yarn, monofilament and multifilament may be used for the
non-elastic yarns 9, 10 serving as the warp yarn or the weft
yarn.
[0061] Further, size of the elastic yarn 8 and the non-elastic
yarns 9, 10 is not particularly limited. However, for example, it
is preferable to use the elastic yarn 8 and the non-elastic yarns
9, 10 which are formed to be capable of applying appropriate
strength to the fastener tape 2 and of which size is capable of
allowing a sewing needle to pass through when the continuous
fastener element 3 is sewn to the element attaching portion 2b.
[0062] In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, two
elastic yarns 8 are arranged side by side after every six
non-elastic yarns 9 are arranged and the elastic yarns 8 are
regularly woven at predetermined intervals so that the quantity
ratio of the non-elastic yarns 9 is larger than that of the elastic
yarns 8 for the warp yarns of the tape main portion 2a. Thus, the
stretchability of the tape main portion 2a in the tape longitudinal
direction can be provided evenly in the tape width direction.
[0063] On the other hand, seven elastic yarns 8 and two non-elastic
yarns 9 are woven at the element attaching portion 2b. The
non-elastic yarn 9 is used for the warp yarn arranged at a selvedge
which is to be an edge of the fastener tape 2 so that the shape of
the fastener tape 2 itself is stabilized. Further, from the
non-elastic yarn 9 toward the tape main portion 2a, the elastic
yarns 8 and the non-elastic yarns 9 are alternately arranged
repeatedly once or more. Then, the elastic yarns 8 are continuously
arranged side by side at an area more to the tape main portion 2a
side than the alternately arranged elastic yarns 8 or the
non-elastic yarns 9.
[0064] In this manner, since the element attaching portion 2b of
the present embodiment is configured so that the quantity ratio of
the non-elastic yarns 9 is to be smaller than that of the elastic
yarns 8, the weaving ratio of the elastic yarns 8 against the
non-elastic yarns 9 at the element attaching portion 2b becomes
larger than that at the tape main portion 2a. Here, in the present
invention, arranging positions of the elastic yarns 8 and the
non-elastic yarns 9 at the tape main portion 2a and the element
attaching portion 2b is not specifically limited and can be
appropriately varied as needed.
[0065] Further, in the fastener stringer 1 of the present
embodiment, the continuous fastener element 3 is formed of
synthetic resin such as polyamide or polyester, for example, and
formed with monofilament of which section is a circular of 0.6 mm
diameter. Specifically, the monofilament is processed to be bent so
as to be wound as a coil-shape. Subsequently, stamping forming is
performed on the monofilament so that plastically deformed portions
are formed to be flat-shaped at predetermined intervals. In this
manner, the coil-shaped continuous fastener element 3 is
formed.
[0066] The continuous fastener element 3 which is formed as
described above includes a coupling head 3a, upper and lower leg
portions 3b, 3c which are extended from the coupling head 3a in the
tape width direction, and a connecting portion 3d which connects
the upper leg portion 3b of one fastener element 3 of the adjacent
fastener elements 3 and the lower leg portion 3c of the other
fastener element 3. Further, the continuous fastener element 3 is
sewn to the element attaching portion 2b with double-thread chain
stitch of the sewing yarn 5 together with a stretchable core thread
7 in a state that the core thread 7 is inserted between the upper
and lower leg portions 3b, 3c while the coupling head 3a is
projected from the tape side edge of the fastener tape 2. In this
manner, the element row 4 is formed.
[0067] Here, in the present embodiment, a non-elastic twisted yarn
which is formed by twisting polyester monofilament is used for the
sewing yarn 5 which sews the continuous fastener element 3.
Further, the core thread 7 is formed of a twisted yarn formed by
twisting nine Spandex covered yarns, the covered yarn being
constituted by winding a polyester filament yarn around the
polyurethane elastic yarn.
[0068] The element row 4 which is sewn as described above to the
element attaching portion 2b of the fastener tape 2 can be stably
attached to the element attaching portion 2b since the core thread
7 is inserted between the upper and lower leg portions 3b, 3c. In
addition, coupling operation for coupling the bilateral element
rows 4 can be stabilized when a later-mentioned slide fastener 21
is configured.
[0069] In this case, the element row 4 is formed so that the pitch
P between the coupling heads 3a of the adjacent fastener elements 3
in the tape longitudinal direction is to be 1.37 mm in the state
that the element row 4 is sewn to the element attaching portion 2b
and the fastener tape 2 is not stretched.
[0070] Further, in the fastener stringer 1 of the present
embodiment to which the fastener element 3 is sewn, the elastic
yarn 8 and the non-elastic yarn 9 are woven to the fastener tape 2
as described above. Accordingly, the fastener stringer 1 has
stretchability capable of stretching 10% or more when a load of 1
kg for each 30 cm is applied in the tape longitudinal direction
toward the fastener stringer, for example, and the fastener
stringer 1 is formed to be capable of returning to the original
state (original length) when the load is removed.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the dimension of the
coupling head 3a of the continuous fastener element 3 in the tape
longitudinal direction is denoted as mountain length H and the
dimension of the upper and lower leg portions 3b, 3c in the tape
longitudinal direction is denoted as leg portion length d. In the
fastener stringer 1 of the present embodiment, the mountain length
H is set to be 1.18 mm and the leg portion length d is set to be
0.60 mm which corresponds to the wire diameter of the monofilament
in the case of the present embodiment. Accordingly, in the present
embodiment, the value of the bulging ratio (=mountain length H/leg
portion length d) which is the ratio between the mountain length H
and the leg portion length d is set to be 1.97.
[0072] Thus, in the fastener stringer 1 of the present embodiment,
since the value of bulging ratio is set to be larger than 1.80, in
particular, larger than 1.85, the dimension of the coupling head 3a
in the tape longitudinal direction becomes larger than that in the
fastener stringer of the related art, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and
FIG. 4. Accordingly, the coupling of the coupling heads 3a of the
bilateral fastener elements 3 can be stably maintained and
occurrence of the chain breaking at the element rows 4 can be
prevented even in the case that the element rows 4 are locally
curved or bent in the tape front-back direction and the pitch P of
the fastener element 3 is expanded when the element rows 4 receive
the pushing force while the bilateral element rows 4 are
coupled.
[0073] Further, in the fastener stringer 1, the value of the
bulging ratio is set to be 2.33 or smaller, in particular, to be
2.13 or smaller. Thus, with the element rows 4, the coupling heads
3a of the fastener elements 3 which are adjacent in the tape
longitudinal direction are not overlapped. Therefore, when a slide
fastener 21 which is described later is configured with the
fastener stringer 1, opening and closing operation of the slide
fastener 21 can be smoothly performed without decreasing sliding
easiness of a slider 22.
[0074] Further, in the fastener stringer 1 of the present
embodiment, the pitch P of the continuous fastener element 3 which
is sewn to the fastener tape 2 is set to be 1.37 mm. Accordingly,
the coupling ratio (=(mountain length H+leg portion length d)/pitch
P) which is the ratio between the sum of the mountain length H and
the leg portion length d and the pitch P is set to be 1.30.
[0075] Thus, in the fastener stringer 1 of the present embodiment,
since the value of the coupling ratio is set to be larger than
1.23, in particular, larger than 1.28, the coupling head 3a of one
fastener element 3 can further enter between the upper and lower
leg portions 3b, 3c of the other fastener element 3 of the coupling
counterpart when the bilateral element rows 4 are coupled.
Therefore, the coupling of the coupling heads 3a of the bilateral
fastener elements 3 can be maintained further reliably even when
the pitch P of the fastener element 3 is expanded due to the
pushing force received by the element rows 4 in the coupled
state.
[0076] Further, in the fastener stringer 1, the value of the
coupling ratio is set to be 1.50 or smaller, in particular, to be
1.46 or smaller. Accordingly, overlapping of the coupling heads 3a
of the adjacent fastener elements 3 can be reliably prevented and
decrease of the operability of the slider 22 can be prevented when
the slide fastener 21 is configured.
[0077] Next, the slide fastener 21 which is configured with the
abovementioned fastener stringer 1 of the present embodiment is
described. FIG. 5 is a front view which schematically illustrates
the slide fastener according to the present embodiment.
[0078] In the slide fastener 21 of FIG. 5, the slider 22 having a
tab 22a is inserted through the element rows 4 of the fastener
stringers 1. A top end stop 23 as a stopper is attached to the top
end portion of the element row 4 and a bottom end stop 24 which
connects both bottom end portions so as not to be separable is
attached to the bottom end portions of the element rows 4. The
slider 22 which is inserted through the element rows 4 is arranged
slidably between the top end stop 23 and the bottom end stop 24.
Here, in the present invention, it is also possible to configure
the slider fastener so that a separable bottom end stop which is
constituted of a separable pin, a box pin and a box is provided to
enable the bottom end portions of the element rows 4 to be
separated instead of the abovementioned bottom end stop 24.
[0079] The slide fastener 21 of the present embodiment has
appropriate stretchability as described above since the elastic
yarns 8 are woven into the tape main portion 2a and the element
attaching portion 2b of the fastener tape 2 at predetermined
ratios.
[0080] Further, in the slide fastener 21, the bulging ratio and
coupling ratio of the continuous fastener element 3 are set to be
the abovementioned values which are respectively within the
predetermined ranges. Accordingly, the coupling of the coupling
heads 3a of the bilateral fastener elements 3 can be stably
maintained and occurrence of the chain breaking at the element rows
4 can be prevented even in the case that the pitch P of the
fastener element 3 is expanded when the element rows 4 receive the
pushing force while the bilateral element rows 4 are coupled. In
addition, since the coupling heads 3a of the adjacent fastener
elements 3 are not overlapped, the sliding operation of the slider
22 can be smoothly performed when coupling or separating the
bilateral element rows 4.
[0081] Here, in the present embodiment, the continuous fastener
element is formed with monofilament of which diameter is 0.6 mm. In
the present invention, respective values such as the wire diameter
of the monofilament (i.e., the leg portion length d), the mountain
length H of the coupling head and the pitch P of the fastener
element are not limited, provided that the bulging ratio which is
the ratio between the mountain length H and the leg portion length
d is set to be within the predetermined range. Accordingly, even in
the case that the continuous fastener element is formed of
monofilament of which diameter is 0.8 mm, for example, the
continuous fastener element is simply needed to be formed to set
the mountain length H of the coupling head so that the bulging
ratio is larger than 1.80 and not larger than 2.33, preferably
between 1.85 and 2.13 inclusive.
[0082] Further, in the present embodiment, the fastener stringer is
used for a normal slide fastener in which the coupling head of the
fastener element is projected from the selvedge of the element
attaching portion side of the fastener tape. However, for example,
the present invention can be applied in the same manner to a
so-called concealed slide fastener in which the fastener element is
attached to the element attaching portion so that the coupling head
is arranged to the tape main portion side of the fastener tape and
the fastener tape is folded to be U-shaped at the boundary between
the tape main portion and the element attaching portion of the
fastener tape so that the coupling head is projected outward from
the U-shaped folded portion of the fastener tape.
EXAMPLES
[0083] In the following, the present invention is specifically
described with reference to examples. However, the invention is not
limited to the examples.
[0084] First, the fastener tape of which length is 80 cm or more is
woven by using the elastic yarn and the non-elastic yarn which are
respectively a Spandex covered yarn constituted by winding a
polyester filament yarn around a polyurethane elastic yarn and a
polyester processed yarn.
[0085] Here, as the warp yarns which form the tape main portion of
the obtained fastener tape, two elastic yarns are arranged side by
side after every six non-elastic yarns are arranged. Further, seven
elastic yarns and two non-elastic yarns are woven at the element
attaching portion and one non-elastic yarn is used for the warp
yarn which is arranged at the selvedge of the fastener tape. From
this non-elastic yarn toward the tape main portion side, one
elastic yarn, one non-elastic yarn and six elastic yarns are
arranged in order. Two pieces of such fastener tapes were coupled
as a pair and four pairs of the bilateral fastener tapes were
prepared.
[0086] Next, as the coil-shaped continuous fastener elements which
were sewn to a pair of the bilateral fastener tapes, four kinds of
continuous fastener elements formed of polyester monofilament were
prepared as one pair each (Examples 1, 2, 3 and a Comparative
example). The mountain length H and the leg portion length d of the
examples are shown in the following Table 1 and the pitch thereof
before being sewn to the fastener tape was 1.40 mm.
[0087] Then, by sewing the continuous fastener elements of the
Examples 1, 2, 3 and the Comparative example respectively to the
element attaching portions of four pairs of the bilateral fastener
tapes, four kinds of fastener stringers having length of 80 cm or
more were prepared. The following method was adopted to sew the
continuous fastener elements respectively to each of the fastener
tapes.
[0088] That is, first, the fastener tape is maintained to be linear
by applying a predetermined magnitude of tension force to the
fastener tape in the tape longitudinal direction. Next, a
predetermined magnitude of tension force is applied to the
continuous fastener element through which the core thread is
inserted between the upper and lower leg portions, and then, the
fastener element is placed on the element attaching portion of the
fastener tape which is maintained linearly. Subsequently, the
sewing needle is inserted through the core thread and the element
attaching portion so that the continuous fastener element is sewn
to the element attaching portion with double-thread chain stitch of
the sewing yarn.
[0089] With the continuous fastener element which is sewn to the
fastener tape as described above, the pitch P of the continuous
fastener element after being sewn becomes 1.37 mm as shown in Table
1 because the tension force applied to the fastener tape etc. when
the fastener element is sewn is removed after the sewing so as to
be contracted in the tape longitudinal direction.
[0090] The mountain length H, the leg portion length d and the
pitch P of each of the fastener stringers of the Examples 1, 2, 3
and the Comparative example which were obtained as described above
were respectively measured and confirmed to be respective
predetermined values. Subsequently, the bulging ratio and the
coupling ratio were calculated based on the mountain length H, the
leg portion length d and the pitch P. The calculation result is
also shown in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
example Mountain length H 1.10 1.18 1.28 1.06 (mm) Leg portion
length d 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 (mm) Pitch P (mm) 1.37 1.37 1.37 1.37
Bulging ratio 1.83 1.97 2.13 1.77 Coupling ratio 1.24 1.30 1.37
1.21 Push No load 237 286 456 187 strength Load 1.0 kg 129 177 293
102 (N) Load 2.0 kg 109 127 280 86 Load 3.0 kg 91 120 211 75
[0091] A test to examine the push strength was performed for each
of the fastener stringers of the Examples 1, 2, 3 and the
Comparative example which were obtained as described above. The
following method with a dedicated test apparatus was adopted for
the test. First, the bilateral element rows of the fastener
stringers are coupled. Then, predetermined magnitude of load is
applied in the top-bottom direction of the fastener tape in the
state that the element row is directed upward. In the state that
the load is applied, the bilateral fastener tapes of the fastener
stringers are held by grip portions of the test apparatus.
[0092] The bilateral grip portions is adjusted to be located so
that the width dimension between the coupled element rows and the
bilateral grip portions which hold the bilateral fastener tapes is
to be 3 mm. Further, after the faster tapes are held by the
bilateral grip portions, the pushing force to push the coupled
bilateral element rows from the tape back surface side toward the
front surface side is gradually applied.
[0093] The pushing force is to be increased, and then, the
magnitude of the pushing force when the coupling of the bilateral
element rows is disengaged and the element rows are separated is
measured as the push strength of each of the fastener stringer.
When the pushing force was applied to the element rows in the test
of the push strength of this time, measurement of the push strength
was performed in the case that no load was applied to the fastener
tapes and in the cases that loads of 1.0 kg, 2.0 kg and 3.0 kg were
respectively applied in the direction to be apart toward the top
and bottom of the fastener tapes (longitudinal direction). The
result of the measurement is also shown in Table 1.
[0094] As shown in Table 1, the bulging ratio and the coupling
ratio of the fastener stringer of each of the Examples 1, 2 and 3
are respectively within the range of the present invention. That
is, the range of the bulging ratio is larger than 1.80 and not
larger than 2.33 and the range of the coupling ratio is larger than
1.23 and not larger than 1.50. It was examined that the push
strength of each of the fastener stringers of the Examples 1, 2 and
3 was improved compared to the fastener stringer of the Comparative
example which was formed with dimensions of the related art. The
push strength of each of the Examples 1, 2 and 3 was obtained as a
value of 200 N or larger in the case that no load was applied.
[0095] With a stretchable slide fastener, in particular, the push
strength in the case that a load of at least 1.0 kg is applied is
generally required to be 100 N or larger. The push strength of the
fastener stringer of each of the Examples 1, 2 and 3 was obtained
as a value larger than 100 N in the case that a load of 2.0 kg was
applied. Therefore, it was examined that the element rows were
resistant to occurring of the chain breaking even with applying the
pushing force to the element rows.
[0096] The bulging ratio and the coupling ratio of the fastener
stringer of the Example 2 are within further preferable range. That
is, the bulging ratio is larger than 1.85 and not larger than 2.13
and the coupling ratio is larger than 1.28 and not larger than
1.46. Then, it became clear that the push strength of the fastener
stringer of the Example 2 was remarkably improved.
* * * * *